Allotment Waiting Lists Growing Significantly in District
By StAlbansRobin | Monday, July 05, 2010, 10:05
Using responses to Freedom of Information requests submitted through the MySociety website What Do They Know, St. Albans People has learned that the number of people on waiting lists for allotments in the District has grown steadily over the past year.
As of January 2010, there were 656 plots under the administration of the Council, spread across 11 sites. There were a total of 353 people on waiting lists.
Back in February 2009, there were 643 plots, with 205 on waiting lists.
At that rate of growth, the waiting lists for Council administrated allotment plots could easily double by the start of 2011. No new allotment sites have been earmarked by the Council so those wanting to start growing their own produce are likely to be thwarted, at least for some time, in getting an allotment plot.
Comments
This is a great shame. 'Growing your own' is something that we should encourage as a society.
However, the Council have to make the best use of the revenue they receive, and I am sure that they could see a much larger return on the land through selling it off for housing.
In my opinion, the central government should offer financial incentives to local councils to ensure that the allotment places are at least retained, and preferably increased. But is that really likely in the financial predicament we are currently in?
In the meantime, the Council could help the situation by reallocating uncultivated plots a lot quicker than the do at present.
Another option for people waiting for allotments to become vacant is to look at the scheme operated at http://tinyurl.com/2vjd6e7
By WSI Internet at 11:58 on 06/07/10
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